IRISH GARDENING 



19 



sucli siUToundings R. calliinorplnini \\\\\ be 

 found a i)lant of peculiar charm, and one that 

 will bring pleasure to the Rliododenthon lover 

 at all seasons of the year. 



H. Armytagf, AlooKK. 



The Primrose. 



Altiiougii we wlio can tramp it under foot in 

 anv wood or liedgerow are inclined to under- 



found in Central Europe and some mountainous 

 districts of Southern Europe, but does not, 'as 

 far as is known, occur in north-eastern Europe, 

 the Altai, or Siberia. " Elizabeth " records 

 how she tried to introduce the Primrose to her 



German garden." It will not flourish in 

 German soil. 



Some yeai's ago a Primrose in flower was 

 brought in a Wardian case to Australia. 

 Thousands flocked into the streets of Sydney to 



value the Primrose, still there are few amongst 

 us who do not cherish lingering memorias of 

 hap])y, care-free days when our chubby fingers 

 phicked the " Primrose by the river's brim," or 

 grasped a scented bunch as we " home rejoicing 

 brought it." For the sake of these memf)ries 

 we should value the I'rimrose more than we do. 

 We are incdined to think the Primrose grows 

 everywhere. It does not. We in Britain are 

 glad to know that \\q live in the country in 

 which the Primrose is most abundant. It is 



get a glimpse of the little flower from the Old 

 Country, for it will not grow " down under." 

 Arthur Trower, in his interesting book, " Our 

 Homestead and its Old World Garden," gives 

 a vivid account of the joy of a young Canadian 

 on being granted the " special favour " of being 

 sho\^■n a " real wild English Primrose." The 

 Canadian knelt before the little flower, gazing 

 earnestly and long, reminding the author of the 

 look of the pilgrims to St. Peter's at Rome, and 

 after examining flower and leaf he rose and 



